Liverpool Football Club

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Brendan Rodgers

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45362

Rafa stays silent on future

03 May 2010 - 12:41:37

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Rafael Benitez refused to discuss his Liverpool future after Sunday's final home game of the season ended in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Benitez's Anfield future has come into question in recent weeks following a turbulent campaign where the Reds have failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League or win either the Champions League or subsequent Europa League titles.

Benitez had guaranteed to bring Champions League football back to Merseyside next season and his failure - coupled with talk of interest from Italian giants Juventus - has led to suggestions that the former Valencia coach will leave the Reds at the end of this season.

The Spaniard took part in lap of honour after Sunday's defeat but gave little away in his post-match press conference where he refused to discuss his future.

"Now we have to talk about the game, it is better than to be talking about the speculation," he said. "I understand (concerns at all the speculation) really well but the speculation is something we cannot control.

"So we have to talk about the games, the football and what happened today on the pitch.

"I have shown my commitment with the fans and the club in the past and this year. We still have one game to play so we will try and be ready for this game."

Meanwhile, Benitez refused to criticise Steven Gerrard after the skipper's careless back-pass handed Chelsea a pivotal opening goal.

He added: "These things can happen in football. It is a pity because we were more or less in control. It changed the game and it changed the result at the end."